Browse published articles attributed to Susan Lynn Perry, with full-archive search.
For any of you who might be wondering if your spectrum child will be under your roof forever…well, this one’s for you.
Through all of the hustle and bustle of modern family day life, and especially if autism is part of your family dynamic, it pays to be reminded that we Mommy and Daddy Warriors need to remember to take care of ourselves along the way too. I was honored to interview self-help expert, David Riklan, several months ago, and decided that what he had to say was so important that I would run that episode again.
Is there really such a thing as autism independence? Many parents wonder what the future will hold for their child with autism. Will my child ever be able to drive a car, or live on his own, or be able to hold down a job?
Last month, I was honored to be invited to the iLs (Integrated Listening Systems) Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado, where I had the opportunity to interact with a diverse group of doctors, therapists, educators, and other professionals. The one thing all of these people had in common was their genuine quest for more knowledge in how the brain can grow and heal through neuroplasticity and the use of the unique technology of iLs.
My son’s grandparents are the first people he thinks of when he thinks of family. That warms my heart because I’ve made a pretty concerted effort at making sure we go and visit them at least once or twice a month. I want him to know them as long as we’re all around, because I don’t ever want to look back later on and say… If only…..
I’ve been learning more and more lately about how many of our children with autism are affected by a disruption in their sensory systems. A lot of our kids are simply overwhelmed a LOT of the time. Their bodies do not process their environmental cues the same way other people’s do, and so it’s often like a traffic jam going on inside their little bodies.
I have parents ask me all the time about this elusive “window” for autism recovery. You know what I mean, right? We’ve been told in the past through the media and various sources (mostly well-intentioned, I believe) that you must get an autism diagnosis and begin treatment immediately, because there is only a small window of time for helping your child recover and lead a “normal” life.
We’ve all heard about how children with autism are drawn to the Apple iPad because of its portability, ease of use and innovative touch-screen technology. Now, there’s another reason for children (and parents….and teachers) to be excited about the iPad. It’s called “Injini”.
Going on the Gluten-free, Casein-free Diet (otherwise known as GFCF) can have tremendous benefits for children on the autism spectrum. In fact, many physicians agree that by removing potential inflammatory ingredients from a child’s diet (especially a child on the spectrum), you have a much better chance of taming the immune system and solving some of the physical riddles that often come along with the diagnosis of autism. If you’ve been thinking about making the switch to GFCF in your child’s diet, you may be wondering about some of the following questions:
As you start looking at your child’s diet and what you can do to help your child’s body heal, you may decide to take gluten, casein, soy or even all three out of the daily menu. That can definitely be a step in the right direction, especially if your child suffers from gastrointestinal distress, skin disorders, allergies, sleep disturbances and/or behavioral problems.
Are you thinking about going gluten-free or have you already made the leap? If your child has autism, you might see tremendous gains once gluten is removed from his diet. Gluten can be an insidious little critter that can wreak havoc on your child’s inflamed, overworked and underperforming gut. If you decide to go for it (and I highly recommend going gluten, casei AND soy-free by the way), then there are a few things you should keep in mind that should make the transition a little easier:
With Father’s Day right around the corner, I found myself recently wondering what it means, for most men, to be a good father. Different men have different upbringings and different ideas about how to be a father, but does that make them better or worse than the next guy? Some men may “father” children, but if they’re not there for them either physically, emotionally, or financially, do they really deserve the coveted title of “Father”?r
Everyone knows that one of the telltale signs of autism is an inability to communicate effectively with others. A lot of our kids have trouble processing incoming information in a timely manner which results in frustration for them and us. Can you imagine what that must be like?
When trying to figure out new ways to help your child stay strong and healthy during this busy time of year, think about breaking it down into baby steps. The great philosopher Hippocrates said it best when he said, “let food be thy medicine”. In other words, start with your child’s diet and consider each of the baby steps to be one forkful at a time - ultimately leading you to a healthier child and family.
There are so many theories and protocols about helping our children with autism. Some make sense. Some don’t. I had a parent ask me yesterday, “I want to know what I can do RIGHT NOW to help my son. I don’t have time to wait for a new doctor to see him or to wait for government help. The waiting lists are way too long!”
If you have a child with autism, you’re probably already aware that his body might have difficulty eliminating toxins and other harmful substances efficiently. He may have recurring viral infections or an abundance of heavy metals. There may be a lot of behavioral and mood issues, or perhaps an irregular bowel. He could have problems with food and environmental allergens, or maybe sound sensitivity.
When we first started trying to get to the bottom of my son’s health issues, one of the things we were told by his specialist is that he had a “leaky gut”. Wikipedia describes a leaky gut as “intestinal or bowel hyperpermeability”. That just sounds painful, doesn’t it?
I’ve been threatening for some time now to do a whole show about poop. Yes, that’s right, poop. It’s a subject I’ve become rather familiar with – ever since my son got diagnosed with autism. And I know there are a lot of other spectrum parents out there who have reluctantly been promoted to poop experts too. In fact, there are websites, speakers, books and even seminars devoted to it. I’m not kidding. I mean, poop is a big part of everyone’s life whether you want to acknowledge it or not. It’s just one of those things we all do. We eat; we poop. End of story, right?
That Fateful Day By Susan Lynn Perry "Honey," my husband said breathlessly, "I've just landed in Dallas and I've got to catch the van to the hotel." He paused, panting. "I know it's late, but I'm going to call you as soon as I get to the hotel. I've got something really exciting to tell ...
Imagine this scenario.nnYou are an incredible athlete. Youâve been training in your sport since you were thirteen years old and youâre on the fast track to being at the top of your game. Youâre winning race after race and well on your way to being the absolute best you can be. Youâve also signed a very lucrative contract with a sponsor. Youâre living your dream, man. Life has never been better.nnNow, imagine your world coming crashing down all around you as youâre
Depending on who you listen to, most of you know that your child should be eating between five and nine servings of vegetables every single day. But how in the world can that happen if you have a child resisting anything that looks like it came from Mother Earth?
Why In The World Would You Defend Andrew Wakefield? By Susan Lynn Perry @ The Mother Cub Show This is not the first time I’ve been accused of being crazy. And I’m certain it won’t be the last. That question was actually put to me a few days ago. A person, who shall for now remain name-less, questioned me exactly like that (with a bit of ridiculous arrogance, if you ask me). “Why in the world would you defend Andy Wakefield?”